Entry level DSLR: Canon T3 vs Nikon D3100 (For Party Use)?

I want to get an entry level DSLR and move from my Olympus E-PL1.
I use my camera primarily for party photos for my blog but the problem is there's no Auto Focus Assist on my camera. In other words my camera doesn't pre-flash to focus. So when it gets too dark to use auto focus I have to continuously use manual focus and I'm tired of that.

So which camera do you recommend? It has to be able to handle smoke, low lighting and fast movements and I shouldn't have to purchase too many add-ons like an additional flash or lens or something. I also require the camera with the better picture quality.

What lens are you using on your E-PL1? If you get a faster lens it will remedy your problem and result in better pictures. Party pictures with flash are generally a bad idea anyway since the ambient lighting sets the mood at a party plus people don't like cameras flashing in their face when they'ret ryign to have a good time. Whatever camera you get, chances are the kit lens is not going to do the job for you here. Your money would be better spent on an f1.8 or faster lens.

That being said if you really want to trade up to a DSLR, any entry level one would be fine but you need to get a 35mm or 50mm f1.8 lens to go with it. If you want fast autofocus look at the Sony SLT a35. I have the a77 and use the a33 (predecessor to the a35) for my classes and they autofocus faster and in lower light than any Nikon or Canon I've used. The translucent mirror is what makes the difference. Plus you can get the Minolta Maxxum 50mm f1.7 used from KEH or Amazon for around $50 for this camera. You also get 7fps continuous shooting while the other entry levels only pull off 3.

The D3100 is a little better than the T3.It has more focus points, better image quality, lower noise at higher iso, and a larger sensor. HOWEVER, the D3100 can only auto focus with AF-S lenses, which are a little more expensive than the normal AF lens. For me, that would be one of the main things to get the T3 instead of the D3100. But don't get me wrong, the D3100 is a great beginner dslr.

Also, if you want to capture fast movement in low lighting, get a 35mm or 50mm f1.8 or f1.4. They are great in low lighting and are really fast lenses.

For me the Nikon D3100 is the clear winner. I can give you a number of reasons why.

Advantages of the Nikon D3100 over the Canon T3:

1. Much larger screen 3, 0" vs 2, 7"
2. Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 755 ISO
3. Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
4. Better color depth 22, 5 bits vs 21, 9 bits
5. Better image quality 67.0 vs 62.0
6. Supports 24p Yes vs No
7. Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
8. Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
9. More dynamic range 11, 3 EV vs 11 EV
10. Larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.7mm
11. Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
12. Smaller 124x96x73 mm vs 130x100x78 mm
13. More focus points 11 vs 9
14. Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
15. Thinner 2, 9" vs 3, 1"

I hope these points can clear things up for you.

Best price for D3100 from my research:

http://www.amazon.com/...003ZYF3LO/

I found a really helpful review about the D3100:

http://www.amazon.com/...UMEWSVG00/

Best price for T3 from my research:

http://www.amazon.com/...004J3Y9U6/